- A
Single sign-on (SSO).
SSO lets a user authenticate once and then access multiple trusted applications without reentering credentials. It improves usability while still keeping centralized identity control.
- B
Federation between the identity provider and the other applications.
Federation lets separate systems trust one another's authentication decisions. It is commonly used with SSO so a central identity provider can support access to multiple applications securely.
- C
Network address translation (NAT).
Why wrong: NAT changes IP addressing for network traffic, but it does not provide user authentication or shared login behavior. It is unrelated to sign-on flow.
- D
Port address translation (PAT).
Why wrong: PAT is a form of NAT used for sharing public addresses. It has nothing to do with identity federation or reusing a login session across applications.
- E
A hardened BIOS password on each workstation.
Why wrong: A BIOS password can help protect device settings, but it does not provide application authentication or allow one login to work across multiple services.
Quick Answer
The answer is federation and single sign-on (SSO). SSO allows a user to authenticate once and then access multiple applications like email and the HR app without re-entering credentials, while federation extends this capability by establishing trust between the identity provider and those separate applications, typically through token exchange such as SAML assertions or OIDC ID tokens. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of how centralized authentication reduces password fatigue but requires federation to securely share identity across different domains or platforms—a common trap is confusing SSO alone with the cross-domain trust that federation provides. Remember that SSO handles the “one login” experience, but federation is the bridge that makes it work across multiple applications. A helpful mnemonic is “SSO for the session, federation for the family”—the first keeps you signed in, the second connects the apps.
SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Employees need to sign in once to the corporate portal and then access email and the HR app without entering credentials again. Which two technologies make this possible in a secure design? Select two.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Single sign-on (SSO).
Single sign-on (SSO) allows a user to authenticate once and then access multiple applications (email, HR app) without re-entering credentials. This is achieved by the identity provider (IdP) issuing a token (e.g., SAML assertion, OIDC ID token) that is trusted by the service providers. SSO reduces password fatigue and centralizes authentication, but must be paired with federation to securely share identity across different domains or applications.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Single sign-on (SSO).
Why this is correct
SSO lets a user authenticate once and then access multiple trusted applications without reentering credentials. It improves usability while still keeping centralized identity control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Federation between the identity provider and the other applications.
Why this is correct
Federation lets separate systems trust one another's authentication decisions. It is commonly used with SSO so a central identity provider can support access to multiple applications securely.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Network address translation (NAT).
Why it's wrong here
NAT changes IP addressing for network traffic, but it does not provide user authentication or shared login behavior. It is unrelated to sign-on flow.
- ✗
Port address translation (PAT).
- ✗
A hardened BIOS password on each workstation.
Why it's wrong here
A BIOS password can help protect device settings, but it does not provide application authentication or allow one login to work across multiple services.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between SSO and federation, where candidates mistakenly think SSO alone is sufficient for cross-domain access, but federation is required when the applications are managed by different identity domains or external providers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSO typically relies on protocols like SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, or OpenID Connect (OIDC) to exchange authentication tokens. Federation extends SSO across organizational boundaries by establishing trust relationships between identity providers (IdPs) and service providers (SPs) through metadata exchange and digital signatures. In a real-world scenario, an employee logs into the corporate portal (IdP), which issues a signed SAML assertion; the email and HR apps (SPs) validate the assertion and grant access without prompting for credentials again.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Architecture — This question tests Security Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Single sign-on (SSO). — Single sign-on (SSO) allows a user to authenticate once and then access multiple applications (email, HR app) without re-entering credentials. This is achieved by the identity provider (IdP) issuing a token (e.g., SAML assertion, OIDC ID token) that is trusted by the service providers. SSO reduces password fatigue and centralizes authentication, but must be paired with federation to securely share identity across different domains or applications.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SY0-701
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An organization wants employees to sign in once and then access several SaaS applications without repeated logins. Which two technologies make this possible? Select two.
easy- ✓ A.Single sign-on
- ✓ B.Identity federation
- C.Network address translation
- D.Port forwarding
- E.Full-disk encryption
Why A: Single sign-on (SSO) allows a user to authenticate once and then access multiple SaaS applications without re-entering credentials. It works by establishing a trusted session (often via SAML assertions or OIDC tokens) that is presented to each application, eliminating repeated logins. This directly meets the requirement for a single authentication event granting access to several services.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
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